Ep 036: Angela Ahrendts with John Maxwell

TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST

Leading Organizations Vision

Have you ever been inspired by a leader whose life embodies a bold vision and a genuine love for people? Angela Ahrendts, Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple, exudes a contagious joy and personal warmth that sets her leadership apart. In this wide-ranging interview, she discusses how she unexpectedly became a CEO, the importance of work-life balance, how to get the most out of people and the difference between “hard strategies” and “heart strategies.” This interview was recorded in a small, private setting in front of a live audience.

On This Podcast

Angela Ahrendts

Angela Ahrendts was formerly responsible for strategy, real estate & development and operations of Apple’s physical stores, online store and contact centers. Since joining Apple in 2014, she has integrated Apple’s physical and digital retail businesses to create a seamless experience for more than a billion visitors per year with the goal of educating, inspiring, entertaining and enriching communities. Prior to Apple, Ahrendts served as CEO of Burberry, leading the company through a period of outstanding global growth.

John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell Company

John C. Maxwell, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach and speaker, was identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association and the world’s most influential leadership expert by Inc. in 2014. His organizations—The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team and EQUIP—have trained over 6 million leaders in every nation. His latest book is Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters.

Show Notes

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SUMMARY:

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Path to CEO
- I never planned to be a CEO. I always just tried to do my life’s greatest work.
- No matter what I’m doing, I’m in the people business. You do not become a CEO on your own.
- If you unite amazing people and achieve amazing results, eventually those above you will want to know the leader who enabled those results.
Investing in People
- Investing in people involves both a financial and developmental approach.
  - Financial: When I came to Apple, the corporate employees had benefits that the retail employees did not. Equal benefits show our people that they are part of a greater whole. Now all employees get stock options and fair wages.
  - Development programs: Apple invests in tuition reimbursement and other programs to identify and develop talent.
- When leaders invest holistically in people, that investment sends the message that “my leader cares.”
Work/Life Balance
- I have three jobs: I have a husband; I have children and I have a career. I’m going to retire from the career one day. And the kids are going to have their own lives. I’ve always hoped that I can live happily ever after with my best friend.
- Life is about choices. I keep the end goal in mind and choose to live a life of balance.
The “Bigger Boss”
- When I’m making decisions, I filter everything through my belief in a “bigger boss.”
- I remind myself that I have a bigger boss that I’m accountable to every minute of my life.
Visionary Leadership
- The bigger the vision you have, the more challenging execution will be.
- The best strategies are not 52 things. They are a handful of simple things that can permeate your culture through repetition and consistent, clear communication.
- If you want to accomplish your dream, the dream must stay consistent. You can’t go after a different dream every day.
“Hard Strategies” and “Heart Strategies”
- Every company has “hard strategies” (metrics, goals, budgets) and “heart strategies” (higher purpose).
- I ask the question, “How many people can we touch and transform by the power of our people and the platforms we create?”
- The only reason I left Burberry to go to Apple was because of the opportunity to do good on an incredible platform. It’s a calling, not a job.
- My job as a leader is to inspire people to do their life’s best work.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Angela discussed several key topics in this interview. Which topic was the most interesting to you?

How to become a CEO
How to invest in people
How to approach work/life balance
How to think about God as your “bigger boss”
How to execute a vision
How to integrate “hard strategies” with “heart strategies”

2. Think about your own leadership. In what specific way could you take a next step to implement one of her ideas into your work life over the next week?